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KPA-500 AM Performance?

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Dave Purola

KPA-500 AM Performance?

I was wondering about the Performance of the KPA-500 in AM mode of operation? There are no spec's on the web site that I have seen as of yet. Does anybody have any experence using it in this mode or can shed some light?

Dave Purola,
N8NTA
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M0AFJ

Re: KPA-500 AM Performance?

Hi Dave, I have used my KPA500 on AM, I keep it down to around 200W on modulation peaks and I've had some superb quality reports, you can't do better than a good class A amp!. Remember not to rag chew for hours as it will get warm...

Best regards, Tim Hague, M0AFJ
Skype m0afj.Tim
Sent on my iPad

On 18 Feb 2013, at 15:29, Dave Purola <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I was wondering about the Performance of the KPA-500 in AM mode of operation? There are no spec's on the web site that I have seen as of yet. Does anybody have any experence using it in this mode or can shed some light?
>
> Dave Purola,
> N8NTA
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

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Chuck - AE4CW

Re: KPA-500 AM Performance?

We all know that in AM mode the K3 sets carrier power at 25% of the power set with the PWR control. Can anyone confirm that the K3 switches in the 100W PA in AM mode when the PWR is set at 13 watts or greater even though the actual carrier power is limited to approximately 25% or 3+ watts? I hear the relay switch when moving PWR from 12 to 13 watts, but I would like to ensure that the 100W PA is actually on and the low power amp is not being over driven when PWR is set to 32 watts (to drive the KPA500) while the carrier drive is running at 8 watts. At this setting the KPA500 carrier power is about 125 watts and peak power hits around 500 watts or a little less. Just being extra cautious about the K3's low power amp I suppose!
---
Chuck, AE4CW

---
Chuck, AE4CW

Don Wilhelm-4

Re: KPA-500 AM Performance?

Chuck,

The power knob is set to the PEP value, not the carrier power.

Since you hear the relay click, the 100W PA is switched in. The AM
carrier level and sideband level is controlled by the math functions in
the DSP so that the PEP is the same as the setting on the power knob -
yes, the carrier power will be 25% of that PEP value.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 2/18/2013 8:18 PM, Chuck - AE4CW wrote:

> We all know that in AM mode the K3 sets carrier power at 25% of the power set
> with the PWR control. Can anyone confirm that the K3 switches in the 100W
> PA in AM mode when the PWR is set at 13 watts or greater even though the
> actual carrier power is limited to approximately 25% or 3+ watts? I hear
> the relay switch when moving PWR from 12 to 13 watts, but I would like to
> ensure that the 100W PA is actually on and the low power amp is not being
> over driven when PWR is set to 32 watts (to drive the KPA500) while the
> carrier drive is running at 8 watts. At this setting the KPA500 carrier
> power is about 125 watts and peak power hits around 500 watts or a little
> less. Just being extra cautious about the K3's low power amp I suppose!
> ---
> Chuck, AE4CW
>